I am going to a wedding in May. It's in Texas. The wedding party is wearing black tie. The wedding is not black tie. Except for me, as I have been specifically asked to wear black tie, even though I am not in the wedding party.

The groom is a very good friend of mine. It's not meant to be a joke on me, though I have reservations exactly because I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb (this is a good example, by the way, of why it would be ill-advised to wear black tie simply because it's an evening wedding). It's going to look like I'm bitter that I'm not in the wedding party, or that I'm extremely pretentious.

I've been helping him figure out his own ensemble, and I guess he's been telling people how well he thinks I dress. For him, I surmise it's something like showing off your fancy new doll. Also, I think he likes the idea of people showing up in whatever random, eclectic ensembles they consider most appropriate given their individual regional leanings. There will be cowboy boots and dress guns everywhere, apparently. Not many "yankees."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Are you going to decline, or educate them on the rules?

The "rules" don't really apply. We'll see how it goes. If others jump on the bandwagon and also wear black tie, I'll definitely be fine with it.

The groom is a very good friend of mine. It's not meant to be a joke on me, though I have reservations exactly because I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb (this is a good example, by the way, of why it would be ill-advised to wear black tie simply because it's an evening wedding). It's going to look like I'm bitter that I'm not in the wedding party, or that I'm extremely pretentious.

I've been helping him figure out his own ensemble, and I guess he's been telling people how well he thinks I dress. For him, I surmise it's something like showing off your fancy new doll. Also, I think he likes the idea of people showing up in whatever random, eclectic ensembles they consider most appropriate given their individual regional leanings. There will be cowboy boots and dress guns everywhere, apparently. Not many "yankees."
The "rules" don't really apply. We'll see how it goes. If others jump on the bandwagon and also wear black tie, I'll definitely be fine with it.

I don't understand why, in order to show his friends how well you dress, you need to be outfitted in black tie garb. In fact, opting for non-black tie affords you a much greater opportunity to flex your sartorial muscles and exercise a little creativity.

It makes little sense for him to ask you specifically to wear a tuxedo, even despite his overall intentions to "show you off."

I don't understand why, in order to show his friends how well you dress, you need to be outfitted in black tie garb. In fact, opting for non-black tie affords you a much greater opportunity to flex your sartorial muscles and exercise a little creativity.

It makes little sense for him to ask you specifically to wear a tuxedo, even despite his overall intentions to "show you off."